Special Service and Features
Mahatma's teachings are relevant even today and youngsters making efforts to understand him would realise their inner potential: Experts
Gandhian experts who spoke at a webinar today were of the opinion that the Mahatma's teachings are very much relevant today and youngsters making efforts to understand him would realise their inner potential and achieve the impossible as Gandhiji did.
The 'Webinar on Mahatma Gandhiji's life & teachings' was organised by Government of India's Regional Outreach Bureau and Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Chennai, to mark Gandhi Jayanthi.
Prof. M. William Baskaran, Centre for Gandhian Studies, Gandhigram Rural Institute and Dean, School of Social Sciences, GRI, in his special address quoted the famous scientist Albert Einstein and said, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth."
"Our understanding of Gandhiji is limited. If we ask people about Gandhi, most of them would say 'he is the father of the Nation and he got us freedom'. This needs to change. There is much more to know about Gandhi and we are undermining his efficacy." The professor explained how Gandhiji is misunderstood as someone super-natural and been just venerated without actually giving a thought to his valuable teachings. He further quoted American political Scientist Gene sharp's famous saying " The homage which most pay to him by calling him, 'Mahatma'- the great- souled one, usually becomes a kind of vaccination against taking him seriously"
Stating that though Gandhiji looked simple and humble ,the professor said his ideas were noble and elegant. Gandhiji believed that issues can be confronted, corrected and changed, with winning over the trust of the individuals and transforming them . He loved his critics and opponents. He was opposing capitalism, but he was friendly with capitalists. To take on capitalism, Gandhiji propagated the increased use of charkha in every household as a symbol of self- reliance as well as to indicate the economic and political independence , Dr. Baskaran added.
Prof. Baskaran further said, "Gandhiji was both religious and rationalist. He tried for harmony other religions and treated everyone equal. That's how he emerged Mahatma."
"To understand Gandhiji, one must understand his ideals of Sarvodaya which means welfare of all and antyodaya which means the welfare of the last man along with the Truth and Ahimsa philosophies. A careful reading of Gandhiji's life and work would save the present generation from their sufferings of addiction, aversion and delusion. This is the times when Gandhiji's sayings have become more relevant than ever and the youth who stake his life seriously will transform themselves " Prof Baskaran added.
Shri. G. Ram Mohan, Retired Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, said, "Gandhiji was not from a poor background, he was from a rich family. His father was wealthy and Gandhiji himself was making huge earnings as he was a leading barrister. He was well-dressed and exposed to Western culture till he realised that his own people were suffering.
Hence, after successfully fighting for the rights of people of Indian origin in South Africa, he came back to India. Gopala Krishna Gokhale asked Gandhi to travel throughout India and understand the land and the people better.
When Gandhiji reached Madurai, he was moved by the plight of peasants. He immediately decided to dress like them for the rest of his life. He tonsured his head, discarded his dress, much to the shock of his supporters. He stood firm in his decision and even wrote a letter about it to the leading newspapers of those times, including The Hindu."
Recalling that the British crushed our cash-rich textile industry, Shri Ram Mohan said Gandhiji wanted to revive it and developed Khadi as a symbol of freedom fight.
Shri. M. Gnanam, President, Gandhi Mandram, Chidambaram, and retired Regional Director and Professor, Central Institute of Hindi, Mysore, said Gandhiji was very efficient in communicating with people and this had won their trust for the freedom struggle.
"He personally travelled 79,000 km, which is still unmatched by any political leader. He kept in touch with people through three ways- personal contact, letters and newspapers. He responded to letters promptly," Shri Gnanam said.
Pointing out that having spearheaded a successful freedom struggle of a big country, Gandhiji never claimed any official position in the first ever Union cabinet, Shri Gnanam said the Mahatma also made sure his family members too did not occupy any government posts.
In his concluding remarks, Shri. Kamaraj, Joint Director, Regional outreach Bureau, said Mahatma Gandhi took complete control of his life and had chosen the future course of life in South Africa where he could not tolerate the sufferings of the masses. When his satyagraha bore fruit, Mahatma had chosen to alleviate the sufferings of the countrymen and returned back to India. The message of Mahatma is loud and clear in espousing everyone to follow the path of Truth and ahimsa in any adverse situation, he added. Ms. A. R. Vidhya, Field Exhibition Officer, Regional Outreach Bureau, moderated the webinar and Smt. S. Sasikala, Staff Artiste, Singer, ROB, Chennai, performed songs on Mahatma Gandhi
Shri. M. William Baskaran, Professor, Centre for Gandhian Studies, Gandhigram Rural Institute and Dean, School of Social Sciences, GRI
Shri. M. Gnanam, President, Gandhi Mandram, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu and retired Regional Director and Professor, Central Institute of Hindi, Mysore
Shri. G. Ram Mohan, Retired Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle
Shri. J. Kamaraj, IIS, Joint Director, ROB, Chennai
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